Leaked DJI Action 2 Photos Show Magnetic Macro Lens

It’s no secret that the Mavic 3 drone is being released on November 5th and the Action 2 is coming on October 27th.

The last major product launch by DJI (Air 2S) was back in April of this year so there’s a lot of excitement for both a new flagship drone and action camera.

Leading up to both launch dates we’ll continue to see more leaked photos and specs, as well as leaked retailer photos. Don’t be fooled. It’s all part of “the game” that happens before every product launch to generate buzz.

DJI Action 2 Latest Leaks

DJI Action 2, if you didn’t already know, is magnetic. If you’ve ever handled the DJI OM4 or OM5 you’ll know how strong these magnetic mounts can be.

The release announcement for Action 2 shows a cube in the center of a ring of magnetically oriented iron filings causing the metal shards to align with the magnetic field of the cube.

We love the teaser images DJI comes up with for product releases. Especially one’s that have some Easter Eggs hidden in plain sight.

One of yesterday’s leaked images, below, details the magnetic feature of the Action 2: the exterior box detail clearly shows a “magnetic lanyard”, top right icon, and ‘magnetic versatility’, top left icon.

Like the magnetically mounted ND filters on previous DJI cameras (Mini, Mini 2, Osmo Pocket, Pocket 2) the DJI Action 2 is magnetically super-enabled. Not only can you mount the action camera magnetically but other attachments, like a Macro lens (below) also ‘lock on’ to the Action 2 body magnetically.

The ‘In The Box’ graphic listing shows what comes in the retail package of the basic Action 2 kit:

• DJI Action 2
• Front touchscreen module
• Magnetic adapter mount
• Power cable
• Magnetic Lanyarda
• Magnetic Ball-Joint Adapter Mount

Housed in an an aluminum body, the Action 2 camera itself has a full sized rear-facing camera. Paired with the Front touchscreen module you’ll have better results framing shots and video in selfie mode.

Retail packaging for the DJI Action 2 follows the typical white box with product shot, keeping the design on-brand with literally every previous product launch by DJI.

DJI put the Action 2 into the hands of social media influencers(you know who you are!) weeks ago and they’ve all been putting the Action 2 through the paces creating buzz-worthy content to drop on launch day when the emargo lifts.

But you have to take what these creators say with a grain of salt: in the 6 years we’ve been reporting on DJI products (and we have previously received product for Beta testing) we’ve never seen anything more than ‘fan-boy’ style love from these so-called influencers.

The honest reviews will come a few weeks after the product launch, when ‘the rest of the world’ gets their hands on the gear and provide serious reviews that aren’t in exchange for product or payment or affiliate revenue.

Video Maxing Out at 4K

As we approach 2022, it’s a bit of a head-scratcher why DJI only gives it’s newest action camera 4K video. Yes it shoots 120 frames per second so you’ll have buttery smooth slow motion, but compared to the recently released GoPro HERO 10 there isn’t much comparison.

The GoPro HERO 10 also captures 23MP stills vs Action 2’s 12MP camera.  Again, we’re scratching our head.

Maybe DJI had initially planned to release Action 2 much sooner (like in late 2020/early 2021) but because of all of the shutdowns and challenges caused by the pandemic they had to put it on the shelf for a while.

If this is the case, one of two things could happen now: an Action 3 with better video and image specs could quickly replace the Action 2 (just like the Mini 2 quickly followed just months after the Mini) and/or shoppers will just by the GoPro HERO 10 and move on.

From what we’ve seen so far, other than the intriguing magnetic aspect of mounting the DJI Action 2, there is nothing (yet) that we find compelling enough to add it to our arsenal of cameras.

32GB On Board Storage

Built in SSD storage is a must in 2021. Everyone, and I mean everyone, forgets an SD card sooner or later. With 32GB of on-board storage you can at least capture about 20 minutes of video at 4K so you’ll have some media for your efforts.

Bottom Line: Will You Buy DJI Action 2?

Like we said above, all of the launch day videos you’ll see from the likes of Peter McKinnon, iJustine, iPhonedo and others will show you all of the specs and features in the new DJI Action 2. But you don’t have to listen very closely to only hear product love. There is almost zero objective reviewing taking place in these videos.

Leading up to next week’s launch of the Action 2, we’re skeptical (as usual) about how it measures up against it’s only competition: GoPro. Based on early leaks of camera specs, we’re not sold. Yet.

Since the original Osmo Action was released over 2 years ago the developers at GoPro have released 3 upgraded versions of the HERO action camera. HERO 8 Black was releasd 5 months after the Osmo Action in October 2019.  HERO 9 Black was launched just over a year ago in September 2020 and HERO 10 Black, with it’s superior 5.3K vidoe and 23MP stills was released one year later in September of this year.

GoPro clearly has control of it’s product cycle when it comes to it’s flagship product, the HERO action camera. DJI clearly never had any structured product cycle for the Osmo Action as it was lapped in features by the GoPro HERO 8.

DJI is a small player by market share in the $2.2 Billion global action camera market, which is growing by 8.7% annually.

GoPro is clearly the action camera segment leader with 64.55% of global action camera market share, by revenue, as of Q2 2021. The remaining 35% of market is shared by lengthy list of competitors, including DJI, who are more likely stealing market share from each other without denting GoPro’s lead.

The bottom line all comes down to “will you buy it?”. And that can only be answered by you, the reader…the buyer of your first (or next) camera.

Tell us: are you going to buy the new DJI Action 2? We really want to know! Use the comments on reach out to us on our Contact page.  We may even share your thoughts in an upcoming article.